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Detailed investigation into source of problem

We had had a statement from Arriva Trains Wales.

Head of Safety at Arriva Trains Wales Gareth Jones said:

This morning at approximately 08:20am, the Driver in charge of a Rhymney to Bargoed service initiated emergency protocols at Caerphilly Station after the on-board safety system activated and as a precaution, the train staff then evacuated all customers from the train.

The Fire Service were called and inspected the train in conjunction with a mobile train engineer which indicated that there was no fire damage. However a heat source was located within the vicinity of an external heating system.

The train was able to move under its own power to our maintenance depot at Cardiff, where detailed investigations are ongoing into the cause of the problem.

Customer safety is of paramount importance to us and the driver and conductor acted quickly and professionally to ensure the safety of everyone on board.

We would like to apologise to customers affected this morning and thank them for their patience. We also wish to thank the fire service for their prompt response and support.

“All lines reopened just after 9.30am and we are working hard with our partners in Network Rail to recover the service as quickly as possible.”

10:09

Quick response praised

Police thank rail staff

09:40

Lines have now re-opened

The train has been moved and the Rhymney line has re-opened. There is going to be a knock-on but Arriva Trains Wales say they are doing they can to get services running normally.

09:32

Bus services are busy

Train passengers are being moved to bus services in the area but they are busy.

09:31

Fire service were on the scene

Regular commuter Rob Roffe said the train just started pulling out of the station when an alarm went off.

Rob said: “I boarded the train at Energlyn, the 8.05am service. We had just started pulling out of Caerphilly Station when an alarm went off and the train - overcrowded as always - braked hard.

“Those standing struggled to keep their footing, but thankfully no falls.

“The guard then asked us to leave the train in a ‘calm and orderly’ fashion.

“Luckily, we hadn’t cleared the platform at Caerphilly. Another minute or so and we would have been facing an evacuation in the Caerphilly Tunnel.”

He said passengers got off onto the platform and moved away from the train.

Rob described “smoke billowing” from the train and within 10 minutes the fire service were at the scene.

He added: “I’m a regular train commuter who works in Cardiff, and I travel by train around Wales as part of my job.

“I’m more than used to Arriva’s omnishambles, but a train fire is a new one for me personally.”

09:21

Arriva apologise to customers

A spokesman for Arriva Trains Wales say they apologise to all customers this morning and are working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible. A mobile fitter is on the scene to try and move the train and get services moving.

The affected train was the 7.25am train from Rhymney to Penarth.

09:14

Train did an emergency stop

Jemma Cleverly was on the train as the fire happened and said smoke was coming from the front of the train.

She said: “I got on at Hengoed and everything was fine, we just left Caerphilly station and the train did an emergency stop and the alarm started going off.

“We were told to leave the train and not to panic.

“I spoke to a guard and they have said that there was a fire and it’s still smouldering and that emergency services have been called, all lines are blocked until they investigate and can move the train.

“Another few hundred yards and we would’ve had to evacuate in the tunnel.”

09:07

Services at a stand

The latest travel information is that services at a standstill on Arriva Trains Wales between Cardiff Queen Street and Rhymney due to operational incident at Caerphilly.

08:58

Large queues building at affected stations

One commuter at Heath High Level said a queue of around 100 people had built up and there was very little information for passengers who have been waiting on the platform.